With regents exams cancelled, school district awaits state guidance on impact on graduation pathways

Editor’s note: This letter was provided by the Pelham Union Free School District.

Today, Governor Cuomo extended the state’s school building closure until April 29. Additionally, the New York State Board of Regents announced cancellation of all regents exams scheduled for this June. Though neither action comes as a surprise, they are a reminder of the continued impact of this pandemic on our schools. Please know that we continue to discuss ways to fairly assess content mastery during this time and are awaiting further guidance from the state with regard to how the cancellation of regents will impact various graduation pathways. We will share more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, we will continue working to provide meaningful distance learning opportunities and educational experiences for as long as our buildings remain closed.

As we prepare for an extended period of our schools being closed and as the time spent in physical isolation from our friends and family increases, there will continue to be stresses on all of our lives. Please remember to check our Coronavirus webpage, which has been recently updated with a variety of new resources spanning several topics that families may find helpful in navigating this health crisis.

In closing, I’m sure many have seen recent data and reports indicating that our region may be nearing the peak of the pandemic. While we are hopeful that this is a sign of brighter days to come, it remains early and it is essential that we continue to practice social distancing. It is incumbent upon all of us to be diligent and continue to remind our family, friends and neighbors to do the same.